Thermoplastic keratin composition.



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BYRON B. GOLDSMITH,-OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

THERMOPLASTIC MBATIN COMPOSITION.

Specification of Letters ?atent.

Patented may 26, 1909.

Application filed October 7, 1907. Serial No. 396,194.

- To all whom it concern:

- Be it known that I, BYRON B.[GoLDsMrrH,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of- Manhattan, city, county, and

State of New York, have invented a certain 1 new and useful Improvement in Thermolastic Keratin Composition, of which the ollowing is a specification.

This mvention relates ,to an improved thermoplastic compound formed from treatment 0 keratin (the rincipal albuminoid of horn, hair, wool, etc? as well as its derivatlves and compounds. 7 I

In my U. S. Patent Number 840,931,

dated January 8th, 1907, I have described a process whereby a thermoplastic. com-- pound may be made from casein or its'deriva tlves, as a convenient and'cheap substitute for celluloid, rubber and the like; and I made itclear said patent that the term thermoplastic was meant to describe those masses whioh,-while reasonabl hard atiordinary temperatures, re r ered soft by heat, so as to perm th niting of separate masses, and the mo] I IQ of anymass to any desired shape.

My present invention-is based upon the discovery that the results obtained by the method described in said atent asapplied to. casemcanalso be reac ed by a similar treatment ofkeratin and its derivatives an compounds. Keratin is derived'by methods horn and horn-like anima modification of t well known to, chemists'pnnci ally iron;

. pro ucts, an

feathers. p r

Shortly statedfimy invention involves the substances largely composed thereof, as well as its derivatives and compounds by uniting them with converting agents under conditrons of heat and pressure, for the production of a thermoplastic composition "of matter,

' useful inthe manufacture of molded articles of manykinds, and suppl a cheap and en nor substitute for ce ulold, rubber etc. e term converting agent as used in my present specification and claims covers any substances which, when combined or admixed with keratin, its derivative or compound acts when heated, to soften the same,

ut whose softeningaction is suspended or i have found useful 'are alphana 1 acid,

' agents is not altogether clear. cases it is probably due to artial solution of .thol and I have claimed e properties of keratin and.

materially diminished upon lowering the temperature of the same. 7

Among the converting agents which I hthol, beta naphthol, benzoid acid, carbo ic acid, bydrochinon, kresol, yrocatechin, resorcin, salicilic acid, urea, beiizoic acid, phthalic hloroglucin, pyrogallol, paratoluidin, napht ylamin,benz1din, oxy-naphthoic acid, amlin, toluidin and Xyloidin. It is to be understood however that I do not limit nay-- .self to these, but that my invention covers the use of equivalents of these substances and has the scope heretofore explained.

The mode of action 'of these converting In some the keratin when heated; ut I do not confine myself to any theory of action; nor is it essential to my invention Whether or not keratin and the converting agent.

One characteristic of a converting agent is its capacity to remain in the mass and not be volatilized to a material extent when moderate heat is ap lied. I have discovered that the best resu ts are obtained by theuse of solidreagents, such as alpha or beta naph this variant of process and product specifically herein. Where flexibility is desired in the product; however, I have discovered ;that a, liquid converting agent or liquids not antagonistic there is a chemical combination between the to the mixture may be combined with a solid agent to great advantage.

The properties of the thermoplastic 00%: pound m the cold state will vary with t particular converting agent employed and with the proportions used. Thus a eat variety of characteristics are obtainab e by suitable variations inproportions and qualities, .1

In the manufacture of my present composition'the keratin or its derivatives under goes the same treatment as is de g 'bed 1n my aforesaid patent in connection w1 h casein {that is to-say that they .may be united Any other method with the convertings agent on or between suitably heated ro may be used whereby these substances are brought into intimate .contact. Instead of using the converting agents in their-natural one pound of beta-nap state, they may be first dissolved in alcohol, Water, or other suitable liquid which is afterward driven oil by heat.

One of the practicable proportions which I have used is the following: Take a quantity of keratin, which would weigh four pounds if dried and sprinkle the same with thol dissolved in alcohol, This is then well mixed, preferably on suitably heated rolls, and; when the mixture is com leted, the mass is removed and is soft while ot but hardens on cooling.

Instead of extracting the keratin -from substances containing it, I can often use those substances themselves. For instance, I can use powdered horn. In such a case a higher heat will be required in molding than where the isolated keratin is dealt with. The expression' keratin or its equivalent is in tended to cover these keratin-containing substances among others. Certain converting agents are better ad aptand compounds than with others, and in many cases the derivatives of keratin or its compounds, or combinations of two or more derivatives or compounds, give results superior to those obtained from use of the unchanged keratin.

Scraps of substances of various nature maybe mixed in with the masses .formed by. my process, in considerable quantities. Among these are celluloid scraps, finely divided albuminoids, bits of horn, rubber, resins, gums and coloring matter. Compounding substances or fillers can also be incorporated without departing from this invention;

I have discovered that the best results are obtained b the use of solid reagents, such as alpha and eta naphthol, and I have claimed this variant of my rocess and product spespecific claims for the use of non-hygroscopic converting agents. All of the agents which I have named above belong to'this class.

What I claim is I 71. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in in-- timately mixingg keratin witha converting agent, substantially as described.

2. he process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists inintimately mixing keratin and a converting agent and then heating and pressing the combined ingredients substantially as de-f scribed.

'3. The process of producing a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in intimately mixing beta-naphthol with keratin and subjecting the combined. ingrepressure, substantially as matter which consists in intimately mixing keratin with an agent or agents which render the same thermoplastic, substantially as described.

6. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in intimately mixing keratin with anormally solid converting agent, substantially. as described. ed to be used with some keratin derivatives 7. The process of making a thermoplastic I composition of matter .which consists in uniting keratinwith a normally solid converting agent and subjecting the mass to heat and pressure, substantially as described.

8. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in in timately mixing keratin with a non-hygroscopic converting agent substantially as described. v

9. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in uniting keratin with a normally solid non-hygroscopic converting agent with heat and pressure, substantially as described.

10. The process of-making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in uniting keratin with a normally solid non-hygroscopic converting agent and thensubjecting pressure, substantially the mass to heat and as described.

11. The. process of making a relatively pliable thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in uniting keratin with a scribed.

a thermoplastic keratin, substantially as de- 14. A'compositionof matter consisting of keratin or its equivalent united with a betanaphthol, substantially as described.

15'. composition of matter consisting'of keratin and a converting agent, substantially I 18. A composition of matter consisting of as described. keratin and a non hygroscopic converting 14) 16. A composition of matter consisting of agent, substantially as described.

keratin orits equivalent and beta-naphthol,

5 substantially as described. i BYRON GOLDSMITH 17. A composition of matter consisting of Witnesses: keratin and a normally solid converting H. S. MAcKAYE,

agent, substantially as described. M. A. BUTLER. 

